Problems And Prospects Of Co-Operative Development

INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
According to the co-operative law of Eastern Nigeria (CAP.28) of 1956 co-operative society is an association which has its objective the promotion of the economic interest of or the provision of services for its members in accordance with co-operative principles. Therefore, co-operative is a self help project.
Abinitio, co-operative were not supposed to be under government influences and control, though, co-operative were not supposed to work in isolation or in competition with government for is all states of the world political power is exercised for the state by government.
The government provides security for lives and property and also provides and enacts laws which enables business and co-operative to flourish. Beyond the level of work only for the interest of the member and betterment of the entire society.
This project is aimed at x-raying the various ways and programmes which government contributes towards the development of co-operative societies. Therefore, the project research is to identify the various areas where government affects the development of co-operative society in Anaocha and to clearly state the significance of the programme. Also, the research work elaborates the factors responsible towards the development of co-operative in Anaocha; thus no financial aid to the orgnisation operating under the co-operative society sector.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
From the background of the study, it should be understood that modern Anaocha co-operative societies were formed in Anaocha local government area to cater for the socio-economic needs of the Anaocha. It is also aimed at savings as instrument for Anaocha development.
But it is however, surprising that despite the existing Anaocha co-operative in the said local government, the various communities that constitute the local government are still in their primary stage of development. Even the Anaocha co-operators themselves are still suffering from poor standard of living.

1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this study is to:
1. Examine the level of Anambra development through co-operatives in Anaocha local government area.
2. Find out the level of performance and the extent to which the Anaocha is achieving or failing to achieve Anaocha development in the said local government.
3. Find out the problems that face Anaocha co-operatives thereby hindering them from achieving the objectives of development and to suggest ways of enhancing the effectiveness of these co-operatives.
4. And to determine the contributions of these Anaocha local government area.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study is significant for the following reasons:
1. It will eliminate doubts as to whether or not women co-operatives aae of any significance in Anaocha development especially in the case study.
2. This study will guide other researchers who may wish to operate along co-operative especially as it concerns Anaocha development through co-operative in Anaocha local government.
3. The significance of this study is most conspicuous in its service as an aid to Anaocha development especially in this period of economic recession in which government wants all hands on desk to increase food production.
4. The study will also find solutions to some problem associated with co-operative in particular and Anaocha development in general.
5. Finally, the information in this study will be of enormous help to researchers who might wish to further their research into areas of Anaocha development not covered by this study.

1.5 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
This study is limited to selected registered Anaocha co-operative societies in Anaocha local government area of Anambra state. The limitation of these selected co-operative societies does not necessarily eliminate the chance of making valid conclusions on the entire population of Anaocha local government area, as the societies are fairly representative of the situation on the ground in local government generally. In the course of the research work, the researcher encountered some constraints, which affected the final output of the study. There limitations amongst others include:
a) Time: The time available for the completion of the research study was not adequate. This was because the researcher was mandated to report her findings within a fixed time limit during the academic session.
b) Cost: For a maximum fulfillment of the objective of this study, the researcher needed to visit all the offices of UDBN Plc to obtain first-hand information. This, she could not achieve due to the huge expenses that would be incurred in the process.
c) Attitudes of Respondents: The negative attitude of some respondents to the researcher’s request for audience in answering questions or filling the questionnaires also constituted a constraint to the assignment.

1.6 Research Questions.
1. Do co-operative societies play any role in the development of Anambra state?
2. Is there any problem faced by Anaocha co-operative which hinders them from achieving their set objectives?
3. Do co-operative societies in Anaocha contribute to the provision of infrastructural development in Anambra state?
4. Is there any contribution of co-operative societies in Anaocha towards Agricultural development of Anambra state?
5. Does Anambra state play any role in the development of co-operatives in Anaocha local government area?

1.7 Definition of Terms.
A co-operative Society: Is an association of persons who voluntarily joined to achieve a common goal through the formation of a democratically controlled organization making equitable contribution to the capital required and accepting a fair share of the risks and benefits of the undertaking in which the members actively participate.
Registered Co-operative Society: Registered co-operative society means a co-operative society registered under the southern Nigeria co-operative societies law and rules, Cap. 28, thereby acquiring the authority to operate.
Co-operatives: Co-operatives is used for the purpose of this study, to represent registered co-operative societies.
Population: This referred to the entire group under study.
Population Sample: This is a small group having all the characteristic of the population under study and upon which postulation or judgment about the entire population is based.
Stratified Sampling: It is the method of dividing the population into sub-groups using such basis as sex and occupation.
Co-operative Education: This is different from literacy education. It is informal and non-formal education given to members to enable them acquire the method of conducting meeting and planning their business. It also have objective of inculcating the co-operative law and bye-law to the members.
Functional Education: Functional education as used in this paper denotes that education that leads the learners to self-actualization through the acquisition of skills that are mostly made immediate use of.

REFERENCE
HELMS, G.F (1986): The Economics of co-operatives Enterprise. University
of London press. Page 24, 200.
IJERE, M.O (1990): New Perspectives in Financing Nigerian Agricultural;
15 Forth Dimension Publishers, Enugu.
UDINI .S. (1986): Production Co-operative Society. 32, James and
Company, Asaba, Delta State.